So if I leave my canadian registered bike in Barcelona and head to the airport to fly back to Canada for a month, am I going to get asked by customs for some paperwork about leaving the bike? Originally I entered at Paris, last Oct 25.

Is there any notation in your passport that links you to your bike? If so, they may not allow you to exit without some sort of permission?? Dunno?

Did the French issues any sort of TVIP (import permit) for your bike when you entered France? Since you are now in Spain, probably not a problem, but perhaps you need to go back to France at some point? (if you have a TVIP that will expire?)

If not, then I don't see a problem storing it in Spain and leaving.

My UK registered bike was stored in France over a 3 year period, over a year out of date on registration/MOT. Never an issue in France, Spain or Portugal.

Was pulled over at big security check points ... they only ever asked to see my passport (American). Never a word about the bike anywhere, (except Morocco).

Thanks Mollydog.

I do have a permis d'enlever from customs in Paris. It doesn't state anything about time limits, but then I didn't ask them either..oops.

Nothing in my passport except stamped arrival for me. Hmmm..

Sure would hate to get set aside when trying to leave Spain...kind of hard to ask customs about it, knowing they might say "the bike has to go with you"!

Arghhh

So, here are the rules for importation of a moto into France, but unfortunately they do not specify, once you reach the limit of six months, whether you have to export the bike from the EU, or just from France.. so if anyone can help with that one it would be great!

If you are a Canadian or US resident and you are visiting the European Union as a tourist, you may temporarily import a private vehicle duty and tax free.

Who qualifies as a tourist under French Customs law?

Anyone who does not stay in the European Union more than 185 days in one calendar year and who does not enter the EU with a view to immigrating or to finding a paid job, even on a short-term basis.

What kind of vehicles may be temporarily imported by tourists?

Tourists are allowed to import the following vehicles (not more than one in each category):

- motorcycle;
- passenger car;
- trailer;
- semi-trailer;
- house trailer;
- motor home.

Tourists may drive with their own Canadian or US license plates and with their own personal driver’s licenses, provided they comply with the driving minimum age requirement in France of 18 and they have a valid insurance. Those vehicles do not have to meet the French safety and environment standards.

What conditions apply to vehicles imported temporarily by tourists?

- they cannot be used by French residents;

- they must be for your personal use and should in no way be sold, rented or otherwise disposed of in France;

- temporary admission is granted for a period of six months starting from your arrival in the EU;

- all such vehicles must be exported when the six-month time limit has expired.

Note: repairs carried out on the vehicle in France are liable to VAT (non-refundable).

Information for private individuals - Importing a Private Vehicle into France from Canada or the U.S. - France in the United States / Embassy of France in Washington, D.C.

Try this thread for a recent discussion of much the same issue.
(It must be getting close to Spring when this subject crops up so frequently).
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...e-europe-80116

I don't believe that anything has changed much in the past few weeks, except that the great and the less-than-good of the EU are even more preoccupied with the Ukraine and the potential "Grexit".

Apart from that, a few years ago an Italian cop said something on the lines of "you Brits worry too much".
That provides an indication of the Latin approach to the law compared with the Anglo-Saxon ways.

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Dave

Thanks but it still seems like people are kind of winging it....like, if there is an EU wide six month limit on temp. importation, and you go beyond it, it is possible insurance companies could nullify a claim at some point...

bit risky eh!

Maybe risky, maybe not.
Philosophically, that all depends on your approach to life in general and riding in particular.
It also depends on what insurance cover you are referring to; fully comprehensive vehicle cover, less-than-fully-comprehensive, life insurance, medical repatriation insurance, legal expenses insurance - it goes on and on.

Just as a thought, a lot of people in this world have no insurance and are not familiar with the concept of insurance; they deal with it.

I haven't heard of anyone who has come to a definitive answer about the "6 months in the EU in total" versus the "6 months in each country of the EU" conumdrum.

One could say that the whole of the EU is winging it.

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Dave

Just an incidental thought - leave your bike in Spain, fly somewhere else internal to the Shengen area (you have a choice of dozens of destinations) and then fly internationally from there; no one will be any the wiser.
Except there are now EU proposals to track all passenger details for those entering and leaving the EU including such data as what food you order for the in-flight meals. The latter will provide an indication of your tendency to indulge in nefarious activities.

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Dave

EU countries are definitely dragging their feet when it comes to informing individuals separately about the laws of their nation and the laws to which they must adhere under the Euro Union. Unfortunately, insurance companies have lots of time and lawyers to help them reject a claim in any manner made possible by and from that lack of information to individuals....

If buying insurance is just about having it in case you get pulled over, ya, that's adventure. The question is what you can afford, as always...

Amazing that with all the ears on this forum, maybe none know for sure whether it is six months in/out for the EU, or for each country...I guess the language barriers have a lot to do with it. The EU should have a website in all languages presenting pertinent info like this..IMHO

I am a Canadian Citizen and Here is my situation:

2012:
I shipped a 2003 Goldwing (USA Model, registered in Canada) from Canada to Frankfurt in May 2012 and rode in Germany, France, Switzerland, Andorra, Spain and ended in Portugal end of June 2012. I stored my bike there until end of March 2013.

2013:
Picked up the Wing end of March went to Morocco April for 10 days. Spent 5 weeks in Spain and Andorra. in May we took the ferry from Santandar to Plymouth and spent 5 weeks in the UK. Stored the bike July 2013 in Glasgow.

2014
Picked up the bike May 2104 and ferried to Holland. Drove to north Holland and then south to Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and returned to Germany to store the bike from July 2014.

2015
Will pick up bike in Germany in mid August and drive through Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia etc to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. Will return to Italy mid October to store the bike until Spring 2016 in Milan or near Rome.

Questions:
Anyone know of a place to store the bike in Italy?

What if any political, licensing, registration etc problems exist with my scenario of having my bike stored in countries for 8 or more months at a time?

Will I be able to sell my Wing when I am done touring, probably spring 2016? I heard that the UK would be easier.

I appreciate any and all ideas, suggestions

1500cc, 1800cc or whatever, you can probably get a sale made to a dealer in the UK.
There is always a demand for Goldwings and spring would be a good time to move your bike into the market.
There are dealers who advertise on UK ebay to buy wings.

I asked a guy in the trade about a month ago where the UK advertising is nowadays. He told me that it is nearly all online now and via Ebay, or Gumtree (which is owned by ebay apparently) or via Autotrader.

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Dave

Man! What a luck! I envy your multiple trips! I tried to do a similar thing, only managed two long tours over a 3 year period of storing a UK based bike in France between trips. After I went broke traveling, I sold my bike in the UK. Easier.

For you, since no one has (apparently) hassled you thus far, I'm thinking you're home free to continue to travel as long as you like! Why not?

As far as selling your Wing there??? .... ... I think that's another issue, may not be possible ... unless done "under the table" somehow?? I looked into selling my UK based Triumph Tiger in France ... a "paperwork nightmare" I was told by a very good French dealer friend.

I don't know the rules for selling a NON UK/Euro bike ... but someone will at the UK DVLA or whatever.
Good luck! Good travels!